Cricket Rewind: March 23 - Australia win second successive World Cup

Does Team India even need Jasprit Bumrah in Asia Cup?
Heartbreak for football fans - Ronaldo likely to skip his trip to India
Man tries to scam Ashwin for Virat Kohli's number, gets outsmarted instead
Why Sanju Samson's move to CSK is in limbo!
Can CSK retain Dewald Brevis ahead of IPL 2026?
Babar Azam misses century by 91 runs as Pakistan lose to Shai Hope alone
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev – The war to rule the Middleweight throne
When a Chhattisgarh villager got calls from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers
BCCI's big twist: Career over for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?
Sports | cricket rewind
Ashish Kapoor
23 MAR 2025 | 04:30:00

Some wins are special. Some wins are dominant. And then there are wins that define an era. March 23, 2003, was one such day—a day when Australia didn’t just win a World Cup but crushed the opposition so ruthlessly that it sent shivers down the spine of world cricket.

The final in Johannesburg was supposed to be a battle, a showdown between the world’s best team and an Indian side riding high on momentum. But what followed was not a contest; it was an exhibition of absolute supremacy. Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, led a merciless assault on India’s bowling attack, smashing an unbeaten 140 off 121 balls. He didn’t just bat; he destroyed. His innings was filled with towering sixes, ferocious pulls, and shots that demoralized the opposition.

Alongside him, Damien Martyn played an innings of sheer courage. Nursing a fractured finger, he defied pain and expectation, crafting a flawless 88 in a record 234-run stand*. Australia ended with 359/2—the highest total ever in a World Cup final.

For India, the dream began to crack before they could even blink. The man who had carried their hopes throughout the tournament, Sachin Tendulkar, was dismissed for just 4 in the very first over. Glenn McGrath, with his ice-cold precision, had delivered the killer blow early. The silence in the stands spoke louder than the roar of Australian celebrations.

From there, India’s chase never took off. Sehwag fought, but the pressure was relentless. The Aussies, a well-oiled machine, dismantled India for 234, winning by a massive 125 runs.

This wasn’t just a World Cup win. It was Australia stamping their authority on world cricket. A second successive title. A record-breaking final. A team that seemed untouchable.

Over the next decade, teams would rise and fall, but on March 23, 2003, one thing became clear—Australia weren’t just dominant; they were invincible.

Logo
Download App
Play Store BadgeApp Store Badge
About UsContact UsTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyCopyright © Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All Rights Reserved